Improvement in hose-couplings



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALANSON WORK, OE PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

IMPROVEMENTIN Hose-COUPLINGS.

Specication formingpart of Letters Patent No. 148,540, dated March 10, 1874; application iiled February 20, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALANsoN WORK, of the city and county of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hose-Couplings; and I do hereby declare that the following specilication, taken in connection with the drawings furnished and forming a part thereof, is a clear and true description of my invention.

My invention consists in combining with a section of hose-coupling and a threaded sleeve, which is provided with an inward annular projection at its outer-end, an independent interior clamping-ring of peculiar construction, so arranged, with relation to the coupling-section and the sleeve, that, when the latter is advanced with the hose toward the former, the rear end of the clamping-ring and an interior annular shoulder in the coupling-section will be in contact, thereby causing an annular portion of the hose to be clamped or compressed between the outer end of the clamping-ring and the inner surface of the interior annular projection on the sleeve. Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a set of my improved couplings. Fig. 2 represents the same in longitudinal section. Fig. 3 represents one of the independent interior clampingrings detached from the couplings.

AL denotes, in each instance, one of the two sections of a hose-coupling. These sections differ from each other only so far as is necessary to enable them to match and couple in a manner well known. B denotes a threaded eter of the hose with which it is to be used.- For convenience it should be provided with projections or recesses with which a vise or hose-coupling wrench may iirmly engage when hose and couplings are to be united. The interior of the coupling-section is also essentially provided with an annular bearing-shoulder, b. C denotes the independent interior clamping-ring. It is preferably to be composed of non corrosive metal, and of such character and thickness at its front end as will permit it to change from a circular to an oval form, should the particular character of the hose require it. Its length should be someA what greater than that of the sleeve, and its interior diameter equal to that of the main section. Its rear end should besquared oft', so as to present a good bearin g-surface against the bearing-shoulder b of the main couplingsection A. Its front end is essentially provided with an inclined or rounded edge, as at c. An exterior annular projection may also be provided adjacent to the inclined or rounded surface; or the ring may be of uniform thickness; but, in either case, there should be between the exterior of the ring andthe interior of the threaded sleeve, between the projection a and its inner end, an annular space or recess, somewhat deeper than the thickness of the hose with which it is to be used, it being desirable that the hose be principally coinpressed or clamped between the inclined surface of the ring O and the coincident surface of the projection a of the sleeve B.

When applied to hose,l the sleeve is put thereon with its inner end flush with the end of the hose. The inclined end of the clampingring G is then inserted and driven home with a mallet. When so adjusted, its rear end should project considerably beyond the'sleeve, so that when the sleeve is turned into or upon the main section of the coupling, the rear end of the ring and the shoulder b will be in bearing contact.

It willbe seen when the parts are so adjusted, the threaded sleeve held stationary, and the main section A rotated, that no movement whatever will be imparted to the clamping-ring O, but as the sleeve and section approach each other, the coincident clampingsurfaces vof the ring and sleeve are brought nearer to each other, and engage with the hose only at that point, and therefore if the hose be thicker on one side than on the other, the front end of the ring will be forced to assume an ovalform, or adapt itself to the varied thickness, and yet clamp at all points with uniformity. It will be seen too that my improved coupling can be adapted without material change for use with thick or thin hose, as the variations therein can only cause the clampingrin g to project a greater or lesser distance beyond the sleeve, and that in all cases the coincident clamping'surfaces will be brought into such relations with each other as to engage properly with the hose.

It is Well known that rubber hose after continued use becomes so firmly united With the brass of a coupling with which it is in close contact under pressure, that great dieulty is experienced in detaehing old and Worthless hose therefrom, and also that emergencies frequently arise in which it is important that bursted hose (which generally bursts at the coupling) should be recut and promptly re-atcached to the same couplings. With my improvements this is readily effected, as on Withdrawing the sleeve the projecting clampingring can readily be started out, and properly replaced without difculty.

In applying my couplings no possibility eX- ists of abrading or cutting the exterior or interior surfaces of the hose, as both clampingsurfaces either remain stationary or move together during the rotation of the main section or the sleeve, and that the only movement possible to the sleeve or the ring independently of the other is a longitudinal movement, by Which the clamping-surfaces are brought together or separated. 

